Clasp for skirt-hoops



`"UNITED STATES ATET OFFICE.

THOS. WALLACE, JR., OF ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

CLASP FOR SKIRT-HOOPS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,598, dated June 15, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS VALLACE, Jr., of Ansonia, in the county of New Haven, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Clasp for Attaching the Tapes to the Hoops of Ladies Skeleton Skirts; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part Of this specification, in which- Figure 1, is an outside perspective view (real size) of part of one of the hoops ot a skirt, and represents the attachment Of a tape by my improvement. Fig. 2 is an inside view corresponding to Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a section, on a scale larger than real size, of the hoop, clasp, and tape taken transversely of the hoop. Fig. 4: is a view representing the shape of the piece of metal plate of which the clasp is formed. Fig. 5 represents the plate in perspective, in the condition to which it is bent before applying it to the hoop and tape.

Similar letters of reference indicate cOr responding parts in the several gures.

The piece of metal plate of which the clasp is formed is cut by a punch to the form represented in Fig. 4; 'the middle portionv a, a, being of a length equal tO the width of the tape intended to be employed to connect the hoops, and of a width a little greater than the hoops, and having its edges formed with sharp teeth; and the end portions being made wide enough to form lips Z), tO lap over the hoop. The piece of plate thus cut is placed in a press between suitable dies which turn up the lips b, Z), and the teeth c, c, on the edge Of a, a, at right angles to the general surface of the plate, leaving the space between the turned up lips and teeth of a width to receive the hoop. To secure the tape to a hoop, the tape (which is represented in red color in the drawing and indicated by A,) is placed against the hoop B, and the part a, a, oit' the clasp placed against the tape with the teeth toward it and the lips Z), Z), bent by a pair of pliers over the hoop on each side of the tape and closed tightly upon the hoop by a pair of pliers which secures the clasp firmly to the hoop while the teeth c, c, penetrating the tape secure the latter. The tape may be applied against the inner or outer side of the hoop.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is :h

The clasp formed with lips Z9, Z), at each side of each end, and with teeth c, c, at its edges to operate in the manner herein set forth.

THOS. VALLACE, JR. Witnesses ROBERT R. WOOD, WM. H. BRISTOL, 

